Means fob the production of



Jan. 3 1, 1939.

G. DAVIDSON Re. 20,991 MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO ARTICLES I Original Filed Dec. 5, 1932 \4 ShetS-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. @Zezza .27a z/z'cfsof( ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1939.

G. DAVIDSON MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO ARTICLES original Filed Dems, 1932` aggmg v @ag ATTORNEYS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 31, 1939. 1 y DAVIDSON v Re. 20,991

MEANS FORYTHE PRODUCTION OF T BACCO ARTICLES original Filed Dc. 5, 1932 4 sheets-sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Reissued Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TOBACCO ARTICLES Glenn Davidson, Aurora, Ill.

Serial No. 87,122

29 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of mouthpiece cigarettes, i. e. cigarettes which contain within their wrapper, at the end to be received into the mouth, an insert of paper or other material, which for convenience, may be called a plug.

The desirability of such cigarettes has long been recognized because of their numerous advantages, among which may be listed the following: the prevention of the "shedding of shreds of tobacco into the mouth; the avoidance of the waste of expensive tobacco otherwise contained in the butt which is thrown away, i. e. the substitution therefor of comparatively inexpensive paper; the prevention of the loss of tobacco from the end of the cigarette, while it is being carried in a pocket or purse, which loss leaves the cigarette soft between the lips; the much higher standard of sanitation possible in an insert made of paper, for example, which is handled entirely mechanically as compared to a natural product like a leaf of tobacco which must, of necessity, be handled many times by human lingers; the presentation of a firm feeling between the lips, similar to a cork tipped cigarette; a material reduction in the fire hazard of the discarded butt, when lire resistant paper or other material is used in making the mouthpiece plug.

In addition, it may be said that, if the mouthpiece plugs are properly made, they produce no/ change in the draft or flavor of the cigarette, as compared to a cigarette composed entirely of tobacco.

Despite the fact that mouthpiece cigarettes have numerous advantages to the smoker; that they would save the cigarette manufacturers vast sums of money annually by the substitution of comparatively inexpensive paper for expensive tobacco; and further could reasonably be expected to materially reduce our national fire loss, they have not come into use in the case of commercial tobacco cigarettes. While some medicated cigarettes contain mouthpieces, medicated cigarettes are usually made individually and so the insertion of an insert mouthpiece is a relatively simple matter as compared to the case of the commercial tobacco cigarettes, which are made by continuously sifting tobacco onto a traveling web of Wrapper paper to form a Wind-row of tobacco, closing and sealing the wrapper about this windrow of tobacco to form a cigarette rod which is cut into individual cigarettes. Machines of this type are known in commerce as continuous rod type cigarette machines, in distinction from machines which form cigarettes individually. Such machines produce cigarettes at rates varying from 750 to 1490 cigarettes per minute per machine. Accordingly, the insertion of the insert or plug type of mouthpieces within the wrappers of commercial tobacco cigarettes, during the 5 course of their manufacture by existing high speed methods, has presented mechanical difrlculties which have not been solved heretofore.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide what might be aptly described as an attachment for the present existing continuous rod type cigarette machines, which can be added to such machines without making fundamental alterations therein; by means of which paper is taken from rolls and compacted to form mouthpiece plugs, spaced sections of the tobacco windroW are removed, plugs inserted in the resulting spaced recesses in thetobacco Wind-row, the composite wind-row, now consisting alternately of plugs and tobacco sections, is finally wrapped, and is cut into individual cigarettes in accordance with standard practices.

In general terms, the method of accomplishing this consists of gripping spaced sections of the traveling tobacco wind-row, leaving alternate 25 free sections therebetween, cutting completely through the tobacco wind-row but not through the wrapper paper thereunder near each end of the free sections, removing the free tobacco, inserting plugs in the resulting spaced recess, removing the gripping means, closing and sealing the wrapper', and cutting the cigarette rod formed thereby into individual cigarettes in such a way that each cigarette carries a plug or a portion thereof as a mouthpiece. Preferably, the final cutting into cigarettes is so arranged that cuts are made through the center' of each plug and tobacco section in a general way similar to the practice followed in cutting cork-tipped cigarettes. 40

Regarding the matter of cutting through the tobacco wind-row, others have heretofore proposed to cut part way through this wind-row but such a step will not suflice for my purpose because a square end must be provided for the tobacco section against which the plug may be firmly abutted, in order that there will be no Weakness in the cigarette at the plane of contact of the plug and the tobacco section. Further, a clean removal of the free tobacco between the cuts must be accomplished, in order that there will be no strands of tobacco remaining to extend between the plug and the Wrapper.

I have found that even when using a cutter of razor-like sharpness, if the tobacco Wind-row with the wrapper thereunder, is supported on a hard and polished surface, it is possible to cut through the tobacco wind-row and apply very heavy pressure of the razor edge upon the wrapper paper without damage thereto provided there is no sidewise motion. Further, I have found that an edge of the thickness of the body of a safety razor blade will cut through the tobacco wind-row with entire satisfactionv and will not damage the wrapper thereunder even if a slight sidewise motion occurs. The thicker edge is also desirable in that it greatly reduces the amount of sharpening necessary.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:-

Fig. l is a side elevational View of the mechanism embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the portion of the mechanism to the rear thereof, being taken on a plane at right angles and substantially on the line II-lI, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional detail; Fig. 4 is a further enlarged transverse section taken substantially on the line IV-IV, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a similar section taken substantially on the line V--V, Fig. 3; and Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevational views of modications.

In its general aspects, the invention contemplates formation of a tobacco body in continuouslength manner, inserting therein at spaced intervals a mouthpiece plug, as it may for convenience be termed, completing the formation of the assembled structure in rod-manner, and then severing into finished lengths each of which contains its mouthpiece plug abutting the tobacco body. Thus, tobacco in suitably prepared form for cigarettes may be continuously laid upon a traveling web of wrapper-paper, mouthpiece plugs may simultaneously be formed and be forwarded and placed in spaced positions in the tobacco filler body in spaces provided therefor by removal of tobacco portions at regular intervals, and the paper is then turned up about the assembly of alternate tobacco and mouthpiece plugs and is sealed to complete the continuous rod-form, whereupon it is fed to the severing mechanism for cutting into individual cigarette lengths.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, there is shown a means A for forming a continuous-type of cigarette ller by depositing the prepared tobacco upon a traveling web of wrapper-paper indicated by the dotted line 2. The detail of the tobacco body forming mechanism being immaterial to the present invention, and there being well known mechanism existent for this, further detailed description and showing thereof is unnecessary, and suffice it to say that the traveling wrapper-'paper 2 with its provided wind-row of tobacco filler 2a is fed along progressively to the plug-inserting mechanism B. This is mounted upon the general framing 3 of the machine, and includes a housing 4 within which is the drive-gearing for actuating the respective elements including the cutter-carrying Wheel c, the wheel plug-inserting means d, and the endless belt e which travels in relation therewith. The endless belt e is -desirably in the form of a metal tape-like belt and havingwindows 5 (Fig. 5) at spaced intervals, through which the cutting elements and the plug-inserting elements successively operate, the belt e traveling over drums 6, l, each of which has peripheral lugs 8 coacting sprocket-wise in corresponding small openings near each edge of the belt, for feeding the same positively, somewhat in the manner of the feed of a motion picture film. The drum or wheel 6 is an idler, and the drum or wheel 1 is positively driven. Mounted within, but unconnected to the wheel 6 is a shaft 9 preferably carried by the housing 4 by means of ball bearings I0, II, the shaft being driven through its gearing I2 from a gear I3 which in turn meshes with a gear I4 on a shaft I5 actuated by a worm wheel IB and a worm I1 on the main shaft I8. 'I'he projecting end of shaft 9 carried xedly-attached the wheel-like member c, which comprises a back plate I9, and a face plate 20 suitably held by bolts or screws 2|, and between which plates a series of cutters k is arranged. Each such cutter k comprises a wedge-block 23 supported by a cap screw 24, and having spaced cutting edges 25 such as to be suitable to cut through the wind-row of tobacco body carried along thereunder, without damaging the wrapper-paper therebeneath. Adjusting means for the cutter blades is provided, and this may take the form of shouldered slides 26 (see Fig. 3) bearing against the respective blades internally, and being adjustable by screws 2l. In a position under and opposite each cutter k as it comes into functioning relation, is an anvil 28. resiliently supported by a spring 29 about the stem 30, the tension being such as to afford a slight yielding as the cutter is brought into operating position above. Between the wheels 6 and 'I is a housing or suction-head 3| having a connection-outlet 3Ia to a suitable source of vacuum. The cutters, while severing the tobacco, do not in themselves lift the severed portion from the tobacco stream, and thus the cut-out portions may be uniformly removed by the suction. By arranging the suction-head 3I against the cutter wheel, any possible stray particles of tobacco that might tend to follow around with the cutters are removed also. The cutter assembly is held together by a locking cone 32 which inserts into a corresponding recess in the rear plate I9, a key 33 insuring movement with the shaft when the cone is fixed in position by the securing means 34 which is screw threaded into the end of the shaft 9 and against the cone.

Surrounding the cutter wheel c, as aforementioned, is the idler wheel 6 for the belt e, and any suitable mounting therefor may be applied, for instance a series of ball bearings 35 (see Fig. 5), carried on studs 36 secured to the face of the housing 4, and upon such bearings an outer track-way 36a may engage, this being secured to the web 31 of the wheel 6, and to an inner ring 38 to complete the run-way channel. By such means, as seen, the wheel 6 may turn freely in the mounting, not interfering with the cutter wheel c.

The drive wheel 'I for the belt e is fastened to and driven by a shaft 39 (see Fig. 4) mounted in bearings 40, 4I in the housing 4. The shaft is driven in turn through a gear 42 which meshes with gear I3. The wheel 'I carries a series of pusher levers 43 (see also Fig. 3), these being pivotally connected to the wheel as by studs 44, and the extension end of each lever carries a cam-roller 45 which travels in a cam-race 46 in a stationary cam plate 4'I anchored to the frame by any convenient means, for instance support-arm- 48 connecting with a face-plate 49. The ends 50 of the levers' 43 lie opposite openings in the periphery of the wheel 1, such as to be actuated by the cam to project out during a portion of the revolution of the wheel, and be drawnin during the remainder of the revolution. Carried also by the wheel 1 is another series of levers 5|, mounted for instance by studs 52. 'I'hese levers are of the general form of bellcrank levers having a cam roller 53 at one end and a feed finger 54 at the other end. The cam rollers 53 are also operated by a cam-race 55 in the stationary cam plate 41. The ends 54 of the levers are positioned opposite openings in the periphery of the wheel 1, such that the cam arrangement occasion a projection of each lever duringa portion of the revolution of the wheel 1, and a retraction therewithin during the remainder of the revolution. Both sets of levers coact in the feed of the mouth-piece plugs. The latter are formed and forwarded thereto by the mechanism shown more extensively in Fig. 2. In this a strip of paper 56 is drawn together from a continuous web-feed, the detail of which is unnecessary to show, into a compacting cone 51 which provides a continuous rod or pencil which is laid in position on a web of wrapper paper 58 supplied from a suitable roll or other source, the detail of which is unnecessary to show, the wrapperweb 58 being turned up about the pencil of paper ller, by the former-guides 59, and being sealed by the sealing means 68, whose precise detail is immaterial and need'not be furthe-r described. The paper-filler, now enclosed in its wrap-per, and progressing as a continuous rod or pencil 6I, encounters cutting means, such for instance as revolving cutter knife 62, which may be similar to cutter mechanism known in the art for severing cigarettes, and which requires no further'detail description. The severed plugs thence proceed to the inserting means, which may include a guidev 64 having a face plate 65 adjustable by means of its holding screws 66, to provide suitable slight frictional engagement against its free forward feed. Desirably, the face plate 65 may be of plate glass. At the lower end of the curved guide 64 is a pair of kicker wheels 61 driven by any suitable means, for instance motor 68 and belt 69, these wheels being sc positioned as to seize each filler plug 63 in turn and shove it into the grooved channel 1U of the housing 3| which coacts with the wheel 1. A corresponding groove 10a: in the face of the wheel cooperates with grooved channel 1U to provide a circular cross section for the reception of the cylindrical plugs, such as to allow engagement of the feedfingers 50 of the levers 43, the plug thus being fed down in relation to the tobacco in the wrapper 2. The lever-ends or ngers 5| serve to push the plugs radially outward from the wheel 1 at the instant of their insertion into the tobacco inter-spaces. Desirably, the feed finger 50 is given an exaggerated thrust movement timed with the contact of the filler plug with the tobacco as it is positioned in the preformed recess, such thrust forward serving to properly bed the filler-plug and tobacco together. For this, the cam path is properly shaped and the windows in. the wheel 1 and belt e are slightly appropriately enlarged. Beyond the assembly-wheel 1 a` former-guide 1I is arranged to turn the wrapper up about the sides of the tobacco and insertplugs, the wrapper thence being sealed by suitable mea-ns 12, which may be of detail form as Y. known in thel'art, and requiring no further description here. The cigarette rod or pencil 12 thence proceeds to cutting mechanism, whichmay comprise a cutter 14 whose detail and drive may be of any suitable form, such as known in the art, and which serves to cut the rod or pencil into finished cigarettes. In order to assure proper feed-action, an endless traveling belt 15 driven by belt-wheel 16 and suitable gearing 11, 18, coacts with the traveling wrapper 2 and contents.

In operation, the filler tobacco is fed down by the feed mechanism A, upon the continuous web of wrapper paper 2, thereby forming a continuous wind-row of tobacco, which is brought under the apertured belt e, and the solid portions of the belt grip spaced sections of the tobacco windrow, leaving alternate sections exposed through the apertures 5. 'I'he cutters k carried by the cutter wheel c operate through these apertures to sever the tobacco wind-row but not the wrapper paper thereunder, near each end of the exposed sections of the wind-row. In this way, the sections of the tobacco wind-row reposing under the apertures in the belt are left entirely free, so that upon their advancement to a point beneath the suction head 3|, these free sections are drawn oilD by vacuum through the outlet duct 3| ct and may be re-introduced into the feed as desired. It Will be seen that' the removal of the free sections leaves spaced recesses in what had previously been a continuous wind-row of t'obacco. Meantime, the paper web 56 (Fig. 2) is being compacted into rod or pencil-form and wrapped within the wrapper web 58 and sealed up, and cut by the cutter 62 into lengths which desirably may be twice the length of the ultimately nished plug. These lengths 63 are fed down through the guide 64 and are seized by the kicker wheels 61 and shoved into the path of the feed-finger of the next approaching lever 43. At the same time, the lever-end 54 of the corresponding lever 5| engages the forward end of the plug and the latter is fed down and assembled in the prepared recess in the tobacco wind-row. Thereupon, the former-guide 1| turns the wrapper 2 up about the assembly, and it is sealed by the sealing means 12, forming the continuous rod or pencil 13y which is iinally cut by the cutter means 14 into the finished cigarettes. 'I'he cutter means may be so arranged that alternate cuts pass through tobacco-filler and through plug-filler, thereby allowing one plug length 63 as supplied to the tobacco windrow to ultimately be cut into the respective mouthpiece ends of adjoining cigarettes.

In some instances, instead of consolidating the recess-forming means or cutter wheel and the assembly wheel Within the respective belt wheels, I may arrange the belt wheels independently, as belt wheels 6a, 1a, Fig. 6, carrying a belt c" which may be of caterpillar tread type if desired, and again provided with windows through which the cutters and feed elements may operate, as aforedescribed. Between the suction head 3| and the assembly means d may then be arranged the plug guide 64, as already described.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. '7,'

the endless belt e is driven by the wheel 1 asdescribed in connection with Fig. 1, and the cuttercarrying wheel c, plug-inserting means d, and vacuum-head 3| are likewise similar. The belt is supported around the cutter-carrying wheel c however, by guide-means which may comprise rollers r suitably mounted to maintain the proper directiveV path for the belt traveling th'ereover,

and by suitably spacing the nearest roll back from the cutter-carrying wheel c below, the belt `e is brought into holding engagement with the windrow of tobacco at a point quite'in advance of the action of the cutters, and thereby any tendency of the latter to occasion slight displacement of tobacco strands, as might be the case with some stocks, is obviated, since the tobacco is firmly gripped by the belt in its compressive travel with relationV to the wind-row of tobacco on the wrapper paper, to hold the material firmly during the successive action of the cutters.

Instead of a somewhat flexible belt, a rotary drum e, Fig. 8, may be arranged. Such drum, as in the case of the belt, is provided with spaced apertures 5", at intervals corresponding to the positioning for action of the cutters and pluginserting members. The cutter-carrying wheel c, the plug-inserting means d, and the suctionhead 3|" are positioned within the drum, while the traveling Wrapper with its wind-row 2a of tobacco is guided to conform against the periphery of the drum at a point in advance of the cutter-carrying wheel c. The traveling belt 15" is appropriately arranged to coact with the drum beginning at a point well up on its periphery, thereby assuring accurate maintenance and forward'feed of the traveling material.

In the operation of the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the wind-row of tobacco 2a, formed as indicated by any desired means, superimposed upon the traveling web of wrapper paper, is guided beneath the traveling means for gripping spaced sections thereof, leaving alternate sections free, such traveling means being the apertured belt e, e', or the apertured drum e respectively. The cutters k then operate through the apertures, and the resulting free sections of the tobacco wind-row are removed under the vacuum-head 3|, 3 l or 3 l respectively; while the sections on the tobacco wind-row gripped by the solid portions of belt e, e or drum e are held intact. With the further progress beneath the plug-inserting means, the mouthpiece plugs are inserted into the spaced recesses left by the removal of the free sections of the tobacco, and the progressive assembly is wrapped, sealed, and cut into individual cigarettes, as indicated.

In its various aspects thus, the invention is seen` to provide advantageous assembly of mouthpiece filter-plugs with a tobacco body, such plugs having the function of preventing tobacco shreds from loosening into the mouth of the user, and the entire assembly being accomplished in a manner consistent with high speed machine production. By reason Vfurthermore, of the manner of drive, all steps of operation are carried out in exact relation, thus insuring uniformity of product.

Throughout the description and claims I have used the term windrow of tobacco to refer to a pile of tobacco which has a length greater than its width. Such windrow may be formed in many Ways and corresponds to such terms as tobacco rod, tobacco body and other similar terms employed in this art.

The original application, of which this is a reissue, is a division of my prior application Serial No. 645,709I filed December 5, 1932, issued as Patent No. 1,963,676.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:-

1. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for providing spaced sections of tobacco filler, each section having cleanly cut transverse ends, and means for forming a rod free from spaced tube-form openings by interposing compact lter plugs between such sections.

2. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, and means for cutting out spaced sections from the tobacco wind-row.

3. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for cutting out spaced sections from such wind-row, and means for interposing mouthpiece plugs in such cut-out places.

4. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of Wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco Wind-row thereon, and means for cutting through said tobacco windrow at intervals without cutting the wrapper.

5. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for gripping spaced sections of said tobacco wind-row, and means for cutting out intervening sections of said tobacco wind-row.

6. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of Wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for cutting out spaced sections from such wind-row, means for making mouthpiece plugs, and means for inserting the plugs in the cut-out portions of such wind-row.

7. In a continuous rod-type cigarette machine, means for advancing a web of wrapper paper, means for forming a tobacco wind-row thereon, means for cutting out spaced portions of such wind-row, means for inserting therein mouthpiece plugs, means for wrapping the tobacco and the plugs, and means for cutting into individual cigarettes.

8. In a mechanism of the character described, means for providing a tobacco Wind-row, a cutter, traveling means for carrying said cutter into coaction with the tobacco wind-row for cutting portions, means for withdrawing the cut portions,

to provide spaces, and means for supplying mouthpiece plugs at such spaces.

9. In mechanism of the character described, means for providing a tobacco wind-row, a series of cutters, traveling means for carrying said cutters into coaction with the tobacco wind-row, to form cut portions in said Wind-row, means for withdrawing the cut portions to provide spaces, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, and traveling means for positioning such plugs in the spaces in the wind-row.

l0. In mechanism of the character described, means for providing a tobacco wind-row, a series of cutters, traveling means for carrying said cutters into coaction with the tobacco wind-row. to form cut portions in said wind-row, means for removing the out portions of the tobacco to provide spaces, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, positioning elements for placing such mouthpiece plugs in the spaces in the Wind-row, rotary means for carrying such placing elements, and an apertured traveling means coacting with said cutters and said placing elements.

11'. In mechanism of the character described, meansfor forming a wind-row of tobacco, an apertured belt to operate over such wind-row, cutting-means to operate through the apertures of said belt to form cut portions in said wind-row, means for with-drawing the cut portions to provide spaces, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing the mouthpiece plugs in the spaces in the tobacco wind-row, and cam-means for actuating said placing-elements.

12. In mechanism of the character described, means for forming a wind-row of tobacco, an apertured belt to operate over such wind-row, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said' belt to form cut portions in said Wind-row, rotary-means carrying said cutters, means for withdrawing the out portions to provide spaces, an apertured wheel driving said belt, guide-rollers for directing said belt in a path beyond said rotary means, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, a series of placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing the mouthpiece plugs in the spaces in the tobacco wind-row and cam-means for actuating said placing-elements.

13. In mechanism of the character described, means for forming a wind-row of tobacco, an apertured drum to operate over such wind-row, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said drum to form cut portions in said wind-row, rotary means carrying said cutters, means for withdrawing the out portions to provide spaces, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, a series of placing-elements operable through the apertures of said drum to place said plugs in said spaces, and means for actuating said placing-elements.

14. In mechanism of the character described, means for forming a wind-row of tobacco, an apertured belt to operate over such wind-row, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said belt to forni out portions in said wind-row, drum-means carrying said cutters, means for withdrawing the cut portions to provide spaces, an apertured wheel driving said belt, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, a series of placingelements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing such plugs in the spaces in `the tobacco wind-row, and drum-means for carrying said placing-elements.

15. In mechanism of the character described, apertured traveling means for operating on a tobacco wind-row, cutters operable through the apertures of said traveling means, a vacuum-connection adjacent said cutters, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, and placing-elements operable through the apertures of said traveling means for placing such plugs in the tobaccowindrow.

16. In mechanism of the character described.

an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures oi said belt, rotary-means carrying said cutters, an apertured wheel driving said belt,

placing-elements for placing mouthpiece plugs in the tobacco wind-row, rotary-means for carrying said placing-elements, and a vacuum-connection between the carrier means for said cutters and the carriervmeans for said placing-elements.

1'7. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, an apertured driving wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said idler wheel and said belt to form cut portions in said wind-row, rotary means for carrying said cutters, means for withdrawing the cut po-rtions to provide spaces, placing-elements operable through the apertures of said belt for placing mouthpiece plugs in the spaces in the tobacco wind-row, and means for operating said placing-elements.

18. In mechanism of the character described, an aperturedbelt to operate over a tobacco Windrow, an apertured -driving wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said idler wheel and said belt to form cut portions in said wind-row, rotary means for carrying said cutters, means ior withdrawing the cut portions to provide spaces, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, feed Iingers for forwarding the plugs to said spaces, steadying fingers for cooperating with said feed lingersl and rotary means for carrying said feed ngers and said steadying fingers.

19. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, an apertured drive Wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the apertures of said idler wheel and said belt to form cut portions in said wind-row, rotary means for carrying said cutters, means for withdrawing the cut portions to provide spaces, means for supplying mouthpiece plugs, feed-ngers for forwarding the plugs, steadying fingers for cooperating with said feed fingers, rotary means for carrying said feedfingers and said steadying fingers, said rotary means embodying the apertured belt drive Wheel aforementioned, cam-rneans for operating said feed fingers and steadying ngers, and means for sealing a. wrapper about the assembled tobacco and mouthpiece plugs.

20. In mechanism of the character described, an apertured belt to operate over a tobacco windrow, an apertured drive wheel and an apertured idler wheel carrying said belt, a series of cutters to operate through the aperturesof said idler wheel and said belt to form cut portions in said wind-row, rotary means for carrying said cutters, means for withdrawing the cut portions to provide spaces, means for supplying double-length mouthpiece plugs, feed-fingers for forwarding the plugs to said spaces, steadying ngers for cooperating with lsaid feed fingers, rotary means for carrying said feed-fingers and said steadying fingers, said rotary means embodying the apertured belt drive wheel aforementioned, cammeans for operating said feed fingers and steadying fingers, means for sealing a wrapper about the assembled tobacco and mouthpiece plugs, and means for cutting the assemblage into cigarettes and dividing the mouthpiece plugs to leave one length thereof in each cigarette- 21. In mouthpiece cigarette making apparatus, means for feeding plugs into spaces between spaced tobacco bodies, comprising feed fingers traveling in a circuit.

22. In mouthpiece cigarette making apparatus, plug placing mechanism carrying a plug in an arc of a circle, and means to bring plugs thereto in a tangential path.

23. In apparatus of the character described, means for forming a train of spaced tobacco bodies, means for forming filter plugs, and means for bringing said lter plugs by a smoothly curved path in the plane of said train into interpolation in the spaces between the tobacco bodies.

24. In mouthpiece cigarette apparatus, a tobacco engaging device having spaced gripping portions to grip corresponding sections of tobacco and openings therebetween to leave the sections at the openings free, and tobacco cutting elements reciprocable in said openings.

25. In mouthpiece cigarette apparatus, the combination of means for gripping spaced sections of a wind-row of tobacco, means for removing the ungripped sections of said wind-row and means for inserting mouthpiece plugs in the spaces resulting from such removal.

26. In mouthpiece cigarette apparatus, the combination of means for providing a Wind-row of tobacco, means for removing spaced sections of said Wind-row, said removed sections being of less length than the remaining tobacco sections, and means for associating mouthpiece plugs with said remaining tobacco sections.

27. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for providing a WindroW of tobacco, means for forming a train of spaced tobacco bodies from said window and means for moving said train along a line which is a projection of said Wind-row, and means for ntroducing mouthpiece plugs into the spaces between said tobacco bodies by moving said plugs in a path coincident with their lengths at an angle with the path of the said train.

28. In a mouthpiece cigarette making machine, the combination of means for moving spaced tobacco bodies axially, and means for introducing mouthpiece plugs into the spaces be tween said tobacco bodies by simultaneously moving said plugs in substantially the direction of movement of said tobacco bodies.

29. In a mouthpiece cigarette making machine, means for forming a train of spaced tobacco bodies, a feeder for moving plugs along a line which corresponds to a part of the circumference of a circle and which provides a point of tangency with the path of travel of the tobacco bodies and wherein said plugs merge into said path at the point of tangency and occupy the space between said tobacco bodies.

GLENN DAVIDSON. 

